CHICAGO -- The National Automatic Merchandising Association has released a briefing document that summarizes the progress it has made on the legislative front following its recent public policy conference on Capitol Hill.

Among the successes were previously announced visits by elected officials at the federal and state levels, including those by U.S. Congressman Tony Cardenas (D-CA) to Gourmet Coffee Service (Van Nuys, CA) and U.S. Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL) to Pepi Foods (Dothan, AL).

The briefing also details specifics of meetings with federal entities like the General Services Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Taking part in the GSA meeting were NAMA president and chief executive Carla Balakgie; NAMA senior vice-president of government affairs Eric Dell; Nicky Gacos, president of the National Association of Blind Merchants; and John Fowler, Canteen, who is on NAMA's government affairs committee. Discussions focused on micromarkets and the recently released Health and Sustainability Guidelines for Federal Concessions and Vending Operations.

Balakgie and Dell held meetings with offices of six members of Congress, most of whom serve on the House Financial Services Committee. Meetings on currency issues and the metallic makeup of coin provided an opportunity to discuss financial services issues related to the Durbin Amendment, as well as electronic payments.